Father and son convicted in healthcare scam targeting American Airlines
A Texas father and son have been convicted on a vast healthcare scam which targeted hundreds of American Airlines workers.
Terry Lynn Anderson, 67, and son Rocky Freeland Anderson, 37, could face more than 90 years in federal prison for multi-million dollar fraud scheme.
There were convicted of scamming American Airlines’ insurers Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas of $16.7 million in false claims.
The Andersons’ company Anderson Optical & Hearing targeted American employees at Dallas by offering free hearing tests, signing up ground handling workers and technicians with the bait of free luxury eyewear and $100 gift cards.
The two men even conducted walk-in hearing tests at Dallas Fort Worth Airport.
After a five minute test, the Andersons would inform workers, who were targeted for their role working on noisy airport tarmacs, that they needed hearing aids.
It would be provided without cost through the American sponsored employee healthcare program.
Many of the hearing aids never arrived.
"Anderson Optical & Hearing submitted claims to Blue Cross for hearing aids on behalf of American Airlines employees totaling more than $27 million. As a result of these claims, Blue Cross paid Anderson Optical & Hearing more than $16.7 million," the Department of Justice said in a statement.
The two men were found guilty of health care fraud, conspiracy to commit health care fraud and aggravated identity theft.
The defendants had already forfeited a 300 acre ranch, three vehicles, and more than $3.1 million as restitution.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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